Here's the last eight series of the 2016 Tournament B-level events. We begin with a series in...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Panda. One of two Rivalry matches on the Finals schedule is in 12-ball. Everton's Blizzard lacked the kind of speed Southern's Panda had in working through the rack, but Blizzard stalled Panda with defense, and by the time he met it head on, it was too late to avoid Blizzard going up 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Blizzard clinched the title in game 2, making it a 2-0 series with a very hot start that helped her weather the Monarchs' Panda rallying almost all the way back but not getting set in time to prevent Blizzard from taking the game. Panda took game 3 narrowly, getting away with missed contact on his last ball when Blizzard sent her last shot wide of the pocket. The final stood at 2-1 for Blizzard, who takes the B-level title for 12-ball.
Ebay Center, Queens: Paige v. Sydney Sierota. The second event to be determined is Accuracy. Game 1 appeared firmly in the hands of Harrison's Sydney until she missed a shot and missed contact twice more in three straight shots, allowing Queens' Paige two ball-in-hand situations that gave her a comeback 3-4 victory for a 1-0 lead. In game 2, the Specters' Sydney made a tough-angle shot late to preserve a tie to force overtime, where Paige got nothing on the break and Sydney buried an easy shot to win 2-3, tying the series at 1. Sydney tried to get a little too clever in game 3, and it ended up costing her the title, as Paige took care of business in a 3-5 win to take the series 2-1 and first place in B-level Accuracy.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Niki. The third finale is in Rotation, as Dusty faces a rookie representing her former team in an already-heated geographical rivalry. Golden's Dusty did nearly all of her work on mistakes from Eastside's Niki, and it turned out to be a productive effort, as Dusty won 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead, sealing the game with two balls from ball-in-hand. The Sharks' Niki had a five-ball run early in game 2, and this went a long way to preventing the Pilots' Dusty from getting into the game, as did Niki's ability to cut the errors significantly. Niki cruised from there to an 8-3 win, tying the series at 1. Dusty nearly squandered all of game 3, building up a big lead only to fall into a 6-all tie with Niki. Dusty did make the final two balls, winning 8-6 to take the series and the Rotation B-level title 2-1.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney v. Patches. Continuing along, we have the 9-ball final. Boston's Patches did a very strong job in game 1, not making it easy on herself by missing the 9, but doing well in defense to prevent Harrison's Sydney from getting a decent shot so Patches could make the second attempt for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches had a fair amount of sway in game 2, and this worked as she controlled the pace of play. The Specters' Sydney had a chance to win late, but she left the 9 short, and Patches tapped it in for a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went predictably slower than the others, and Patches came through with another tap-in on a second try at the 9 to sweep the series 3-0 and take the B-level 9-ball title.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Crystal. As we cross the final stage's halfway point, we get a series of 15-ball, the second Rivalry match of the segment. Oceanside's Snuggle made it as difficult as possible to win in game 1, but still managed to top Queens' Crystal on his third attempt at the 15 after she couldn't un-jam it from his previous miss, giving him a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 saw a little more control from both players, although the Waves' Snuggle had a narrow miss on the 13 that allowed Crystal to finish the game and tie the series at 1. Crystal had runs of four and five balls on consecutive turns late in game 3, but Snuggle mopped up her short miss on the 15 to vulture the win and take the series 2-1, with the title of B-level 15-ball champ added to his career resume.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Puff I. The next series is significantly shorter, as 7-ball will be played. Infinity's Smudge dazzled early in game 1, making a double-pot with a tough cut on the 1 that caromed the 6 into the top left as the 1 dropped in the bottom left, but a scratch from Smudge set Modernistic's Puff I up for a 2-7 combination to the top left for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 ended up pretty even in terms of possession, but the Torpedoes' Smudge tied the series at 1 when the Union's Puff I missed the 7 to the bottom side, leaving it short for Smudge to tap in for the win. Puff I thought she had a good look in game 3, but missed, and at the end, Smudge banked the 6 into the top side, setting up a cut that she converted to put the 7 in the bottom left. Smudge took the B-level 7-ball title 2-1 over Puff I in a hard-fought three games.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Nicole. The best single-event performance in B-level action meets her biggest competitor in the 10-ball finale. Game 1 ended in embarrassing fashion, as Southern's Nicole twice missed the 10 on decent shots, only for Lighton's Spirit to rush in and claim the win for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Monarchs' Nicole had an early five-ball run in game 2, but it looked like it might go to waste, as the Prestige's Spirit came in hot at the end, but the 10 magically rattled out of the top side. Nicole tapped it in the bottom side to tie the series at 1. In game 3, both players had their chances at the 10. Spirit missed hers, unable to get the 2 on the proper line after accepting the lie from Nicole's illegally potted ball foul. Nicole chose to shoot away from the 10 on her chance. In the end, Spirit took it as the last ball in her three-ball run-out for a 2-1 series win and 10-ball B-level title.
HP Field Events Center, Eastside: Niki v. Watermelon. The final series of the tier is in 8-ball. Eastside's Niki got off to a great start in game 1, but couldn't keep the good times rolling, eventually giving way to the four-ball run-out from Pearl's Watermelon, who used Niki's last ball as insurance against a potential scratch to secure her 1-0 lead. The Surfers' Watermelon again finished strong, leaving the 8 in good position and taking it on her next turn after the Sharks' Niki couldn't do anything with the balls she had left on the table, allowing Watermelon to go up 2-0 in the series. The B-level games came to a close with Niki's four-ball run-out to win game 3, making it a 2-1 series victory for 8-ball champion Watermelon.
That's going to be the last of pool you see on this site for at least a few weeks. I'm soon returning to college, and I will take about the first month I'm over there to rest my arms, back, legs, and hands after a 5,000 game summer vacation. Thank you for being on this journey with me, and I promise the A-level first round will be underway in no time. In the meantime, expect a lot of UPCL Cricket's third season in the coming weeks.
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